The Breaking of the Storm Volume I Part 25

"I will go," said Reinhold.

"Yes, do; that will be better. What, will you not shake hands with me?

We shall meet again!"

She gave him her hand, which Reinhold held fast for a moment; she was already looking towards the Princess. He went down the corridor. As he looked back for a moment from the entrance, he saw Elsa making a deep courtesy to the Princess, who stood still and spoke to her.

"How will she explain it," thought Reinhold. "She cannot say that she was talking in the window to a Superintendent of pilots that is to be!"

CHAPTER XI.

Ferdinanda only stood talking to her friends in the clock-room till she thought that Reinhold, who had repeatedly turned round to look for her, had forgotten her for the moment, and had given himself up to the study of the picture. Then she bowed to the two ladies, and allowed herself to be carried along by a stream of people who were going into the next room, waited a moment to be certain that Reinhold was not following her, and then walked quickly away with the air of a person looking for her lost companion, and who has therefore only a slight nod for any acquaintance she may meet, through this room and the skylight room into the fourth room, and out of these into the long suite of small rooms which from here led back to the chief room, and into which even during the first few days visitors rarely came.

Even to-day it was comparatively empty, only here and there isolated individuals, who with fleeting curiosity examined the pictures, never stopping long, and casting a look of astonishment at an officer who did not seem to be able to tear himself away from a very indifferent landscape. At last his interest seemed appeased; he walked rapidly away, when again his attention was attracted to a picture close to the entrance. It was the same picture before which Ferdinanda had stopped.

The light was so unfavourable that there was only one spot from which the picture could be properly seen. So the officer was obliged to stand quite close to the lady, and in so doing he trod on her dress.

"I beg your pardon," he said aloud, and then in a low voice, which only reached her ear, "Do not turn round till I tell you; speak into the corner; no one will observe it. First of all let me thank you!"

"Why?"

"For coming here."

"I only came to tell you that I will bear it no longer."

"Have I nothing to bear?"

"No, not in comparison with me."

"I love you as you love me."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"By deeds, and not words."

"With my hands tied?"

"Break the bonds that hold you!"

"I cannot."

"Good-bye."

She turned to the door through which she had come; he forgot all caution, and stood in her way. They confronted each other, their eyes meeting.

"Ferdinanda!"

"Let me go!"

"You must hear me! for G.o.d's sake, Ferdinanda! Such an opportunity as this may not occur again for weeks!"

She laughed scornfully. "We have plenty of time."

Again she tried to pa.s.s him; he still stood in her way.

"Ferdinanda!"

"Once again let me go! You wish for an opportunity? You will perhaps never have so good a one of getting rid of me."

He stood back with a bow; she could have gone if she pleased, but she did not go; the hot tears had started into her eyes, she did not dare to meet people so, and turned back to the picture, where he immediately took his original position.

"Be kind, Ferdinanda! I have so looked forward to this hour. Why do you embitter the moments so precious to both of us? You know, you must know that I am prepared to go all lengths if it must be. But we cannot take the final step without considering everything."

"We have been considering for the last six months."

"With the garden wall between us, and in words which were only half understood, in letters where one cannot express what one wants. That is no use. You must meet me somewhere, as I have so often entreated. Am I never to take your hand in mine, never to press my lips against yours?

and you ask for a proof of my love!"

She went up to his side and gazed into the beautiful, restless hazel eyes. Still more beautiful and darker eyes had gazed at her like that a few hours ago, and with more pa.s.sionate warmth. She had been able to withstand them, these she could not withstand. The eyelashes fell upon her burning cheeks.

"I can not," she stammered.

"Say I will not, I have made innumerable suggestions to you. Only the other day I got introduced to your brother at the Club. He was delighted to make my acquaintance, pressed me to visit him, to come and see his pictures. How easily we could meet there."

"I dare not go and see my brother. I have not dared to go for a long time, and now after last night!"

"Then your cousin! Of course he will come and see us? I shall return the visit. Your father cannot turn me away from the door!"

"I have already thought of that and prepared him. But in that case it could only be for a very few minutes."

"Then I will think of something else, if only I knew what you would like; I will find something and write to you, or I should prefer telling you whenever you give me the signal."

"I dare not do it again."

"Why?"

"There is some one who watches every step I take. I am not safe from him for one moment--Antonio--I have told you about him; I am afraid."

"You are afraid of everything."

He turned quickly and impatiently towards the window near which he stood. At the same moment a handsome, remarkably smartly-dressed young man disappeared from the door at the other end of the gallery, where he had stood for the last few minutes, so placed that by bending a little to the left he could easily see the couple in the window with his dark, eagle eyes, without much danger of being seen himself. If necessary he had only to withdraw into the crowd which filled the large neighbouring room. He had seen enough now, and mingled again with the throng.

When Ottomar, after looking out of window for a few seconds, turned to speak to Ferdinanda the words of reconciliation which were on his lips and in his heart, her place was empty.

Ferdinanda could not help it. The acquaintances with whom she had before spoken had pa.s.sed the door of the next room, close to which she stood, and luckily without seeing her. But they were standing quite close to the door, the dress of one of them was still in sight. At any moment they might turn into the gallery if she did not go forward to meet them and keep them till Ottomar, who would of course understand it all, should himself leave the gallery by the other side. And if he did not understand--so much the worse for him. Then it would all be over--better to-day than to-morrow if it must be!